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gan was silenced in a breath. The audience rose and remained standing while the dignitaries filed slowly to their places; President Patton occupying the onyx throne in the center of the platform, President Cleveland at his right, Governor Griggs of New Jersey at his left; at the right again Bishop Satterlee of Washington, and at the left of the Governor Rev. Dr. Cuyler of Brooklyn; behind them the sixty-five about-to-be recipients of degrees; before them so much of the rest of the world as was there assembled.
The exercises were conducted with the utmost simplicity. Prayer was offered by Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, for fifty-five years an alumnus of the college, and a leader among churchmen. Then in a few brief words President Patton announced the result of the labors of the committee on endowment, and read a statement showing that almost a million and a half of dollars was pledged, in addition to the present resources of the college, to the support of the new university. As these statements were read, evidence of a startling nature presented itself that the galleries of the building were packed with under-graduates and alumni who had sought an exalted station that they might make a noise therein. In the center of the rear gallery, exactly opposite President Patton, sat and stood by turns a young lawyer who was not mentioned in any part of the program, but who attracted as much attention as anybody there, who was in fact there for that purpose. He was the leader of the cheering, provided with cane and colors and infinite self confidence, determined hat the under-graduates should have a full share in the launching of the University; and at his beck the pent up emotions of that great audience were to surge forth in unison and cadence, or be restrained until another moment fitting for the expression of them should arrive. Near him sat one of our own alumni, now in Princeton parlance a Seminole, of course in the very center of disturbance, frequently offering to the man with the cane suggestions as to when the disturbance should be renewed.
After the galleries had fully expressed their
satisfaction with the amount set forth in President Patton's statement, he caused a shout of approval by stating that the labors of the committee on contributions were by no means ended. He then passed on to explain the reasons for the proposed change of name, and concluded with these words:—
"It is my great pleasure to say that from this moment, what heretofore for one hundred and fifty years has been known as the College of New Jersey shall in all future time be known as Princeton University."
Then a cheer went up in which for a moment the college cheer was lost, but from which it emerged unruffled and insistent as ever. The band gave forth a mighty chord, and so with shouting and the sound of trumpets, Princeton University was born. To some this was the crowning event of the day. That afternoon my "Seminole" friend said to me, "It was at this moment that I felt most deeply impressed. I looked at my watch and noted that it was exactly thirtynine minutes past eleven." I replied, "I was so deeply impressed that I forgot to look at my watch; yet for me something far more impressive was to come." It was the moment, at the close of President Cleveland's speech, that gave expression, not to the mere fact of the existence of the University, but to the grand purpose that is to dominate it in the years that shall be.
Next in order was the conferring of honorary degrees. This part of the ceremonial was effective, and yet had its amusing side; so that it is not difficult to understand why on such occasions in English universities the undergraduates in the gallery indulge in the wildest license as regards not simply cheering, but "guying,"catcalling, and every form of demonstration likely to discompose the dignified candidates or disturb their gravity. At first thought it may seem strange that with all our acknowledged disregard of pomp and circumstance our American under-graduates do not do the same thing; but perhaps the explanation is that we respect men in whatever estate, while the English